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Coyotes-Wolves-Cougars.blogspot.com

Grizzly bears, black bears, wolves, coyotes, cougars/ mountain lions,bobcats, wolverines, lynx, foxes, fishers and martens are the suite of carnivores that originally inhabited North America after the Pleistocene extinctions.
This site invites research, commentary, point/counterpoint on that suite of native animals (predator and prey) that inhabited The Americas circa 1500-at the initial point of European exploration and subsequent colonization.
Landscape ecology, journal accounts of explorers and frontiersmen, genetic evaluations of museum animals, peer reviewed 20th and 21st century research on various aspects of our "Wild America" as well as subjective commentary from expert and layman alike. All of the above being revealed and discussed with the underlying goal of one day seeing our Continent rewilded.....Where big enough swaths of open space exist with connective corridors to other large forest, meadow, mountain, valley, prairie, desert and chaparral wildlands.....Thereby enabling all of our historic fauna, including man, to live in a sustainable and healthy environment. - Blogger Rick

Preliminary estimates from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reveal that the 2012 deer harvest could be up as much as 10 percent compared to 2011.
Each year, according to a DNR press release, estimates of the firearm deer harvest are released shortly after the conclusion of the 16-day season. While the Upper Peninsula seemingly had a better year, it remains to be seen how hunters below the Mackinac Bridge fared with preliminary data showing it could be anywhere between down 5 percent and up 5 percent.
Wildlife biologists use those preliminary numbers for assessment until a more complete picture is obtained through the annual hunter mail survey which won’t be completed until well into 2013.
Official numbers from the Mackinac Bridge show 6,460 deer have crossed in pick-ups, trailers and tied to the roofs of vehicles, compared to 5,731 in 2011. A spokesperson for the Mackinac Bridge Authority said that figure reflects a 13 percent increase.
That assessment was consistent with local observation.
“My impression from my customers is its a much improved season over previous years,” said Brian Harrison of Leitz’s Sport Shop early today. “It’s been a pretty good season.”
Harrison said he has heard of lots of deer harvested in the 8-10 point range and his personal hunting experience showed more buck sign than he had seen in a decade.
“I hunted four days from daylight to dark,” he said. “I just never saw him.”
Harrison also indicated that hunter excitement remains high even for those who didn’t harvest an animal to date. He said their prevalence of trail cameras are still showing plenty of good animals out there and as a result he has been doing a brisk business in muzzleloaders and accessories as hunters prepared to re-enter the woods with the smokepoles in hand.
Lou Hank, who just recently closed the doors of Hank’s Sport Shop, said he has received mixed reports.
“From what other people are saying, some are seeing absolutely nothing and others are seeing lots of deer,” said Hank expressing the belief that 2012 was “a little better.”
At the Hank hunting grounds, there were four in camp who combined to take two bucks — a 6-pointer and an 8-pointer — during the firearm season.
Hank said he saw the same two bucks every day he was out, but held off on the 6-pointer and the spike, waiting for a bigger buck to come wandering through. He also said that while he is currently empty-handed, he hasn’t closed the books on the 2012 season with plans to continue through the month of December with both a muzzleloader and bow.
Rick Johnson, owner and operator of Johnson’s Sport Shop on Drummond Island, said he has been checking deer in for the last 15 or so years. His assessment of the 2012 season was that it was similar to 2011, which he considered to be a down year.
“The biggest I’ve seen so far is a 10-point,” he said of the 85 or so deer he has taken in so far. “They’re smaller deer.”
In the Rudyard area, there appears to be a bumper crop of deer taken this season, according to a spokesperson for Love Meats.
“We’re definitely up this year,” said Processor Ben Eckola early today, estimating the business has processed well over 200 deer to date with more anticipated with the muzzleloader season opening today.

Preliminary estimates from the Michigan Department of Natural Resources reveal that the 2012 deer harvest could be up as much as 10 percent compared to 2011

.
Each year, according to a DNR press release, estimates of the firearm deer harvest are released shortly after the conclusion of the 16-day season. While the Upper Peninsula seemingly had a better year, it remains to be seen how hunters below the Mackinac Bridge fared with preliminary data showing it could be anywhere between down 5 percent and up 5 percent.

Wildlife biologists use those preliminary numbers for assessment until a more complete picture is obtained through the annual hunter mail survey which won’t be completed until well into 2013.
Official numbers from the Mackinac Bridge show 6,460 deer have crossed in pick-ups, trailers and tied to the roofs of vehicles, compared to 5,731 in 2011. A spokesperson for the Mackinac Bridge Authority said that figure reflects a 13 percent increase.

That assessment was consistent with local observation.“My impression from my customers is its a much improved season over previous years,” said Brian Harrison of Leitz’s Sport Shop early today. “It’s been a pretty good season.”Harrison said he has heard of lots of deer harvested in the 8-10 point range and his personal hunting experience showed more buck sign than he had seen in a decade.
“I hunted four days from daylight to dark,” he said. “I just never saw him.”

Harrison also indicated that hunter excitement remains high even for those who didn’t harvest an animal to date. He said their prevalence of trail cameras are still showing plenty of good animals out there and as a result he has been doing a brisk business in muzzleloaders and accessories as hunters prepared to re-enter the woods with the smokepoles in hand.

Lou Hank, who just recently closed the doors of Hank’s Sport Shop, said he has received mixed reports.“From what other people are saying, some are seeing absolutely nothing and others are seeing lots of deer,” said Hank expressing the belief that 2012 was “a little better.”

At the Hank hunting grounds, there were four in camp who combined to take two bucks — a 6-pointer and an 8-pointer — during the firearm season.Hank said he saw the same two bucks every day he was out, but held off on the 6-pointer and the spike, waiting for a bigger buck to come wandering through. He also said that while he is currently empty-handed, he hasn’t closed the books on the 2012 season with plans to continue through the month of December with both a muzzleloader and bow.

Two Massachusetts Eastern Coyotes at their den site

Eastern Wolf in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada

Aldo Leopold--3 quotes from his SAN COUNTY ALMANAC

"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect."

Aldo Leopold

"A thing is right when it tends to preserve the integrity, stability and beauty of the biotic community. It is wrong when it tends otherwise."

Aldo Leopold

''To keep every cog and wheel is the first precaution of intelligent tinkering."

Wildlife Rendezvous

Like so many conscientious hunters and anglers come to realize, good habitat with our full suite of predators and prey make for healthy and productive living............Teddy Roosevelt depicted at a "WILDLIFE RENDEZVOUS"

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This is a personal weblog. The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer. In addition, my thoughts and opinions change from time to time…I consider this a necessary consequence of having an open mind. This blog is intended to provide a semi-permanent point in time snapshot and manifestation of my various thoughts and opinions, and as such any thoughts and opinions expressed within out-of-date posts may not be the same, nor even similar, to those I may hold today. All data and information provided on this site is for informational purposes only. Rick Meril and WWW.COYOTES-WOLVES-COUGARS.COM make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information on this site and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages arising from its display or use. All information is provided on an as-is basis.